AI Governance Council Australia

Independent AI Governance Readiness and Risk Assessment

About AI Governance Council Australia

AI Governance Council Australia (AIGC) provides independent AI governance readiness assessment and governance risk and control review for Australian organisations. We help reduce AI risk, protect boards and executives, and meet Australia's evolving AI governance expectations.

Our Mission

To establish trusted, independent standards for responsible AI deployment in Australia, protecting organisations and the public from AI-related harms while enabling innovation.

Why AI Governance Matters

  • Board and Executive Liability: Directors face increasing personal exposure for AI decisions
  • Procurement Requirements: Major contracts now require evidence of AI governance
  • Insurance and Risk Transfer: Insurers are scrutinising AI practices in underwriting
  • Regulatory Trajectory: Australian regulation is intensifying across sectors

Our Services

AI Governance Assessment

Comprehensive independent assessment of your AI systems, policies, and risk management practices. We identify legal, ethical, and operational risks before they become problems. Our assessment includes technical review, policy analysis, risk identification, gap analysis, and a detailed remediation roadmap.

Governance Readiness - Early Stage

Foundational governance readiness assessment for organisations with early stage or pilot AI use. Demonstrates your commitment to responsible AI development from the start. Includes governance framework review and basic policy assessment.

Governance Readiness - Operational

For organisations with AI in production. Confirms active governance controls, monitoring processes, and risk management procedures are in place. Includes comprehensive system assessment, operational review, and ongoing monitoring requirements.

Governance Maturity Evaluation - Full Governance

Comprehensive governance maturity evaluation for organisations with high-risk or regulated AI use. Provides maximum assurance and oversight for critical sectors including healthcare, financial services, and government. Includes complete governance audit, ongoing oversight, and annual reassessment.

Our Role

We provide independent assessment and governance risk identification. Implementation remains the responsibility of the organisation or its advisors.

Assessment Levels

Our three-tier assessment framework matches your organisation's AI maturity and risk profile:

Level 1: Early Stage

For organisations with early stage or pilot AI use. Scope: Basic governance framework, foundational policies. Requirements: Board awareness, documented policies, basic risk assessment. Timeline: 4-6 weeks. Cost: $8,500 + GST.

Level 2: Operational

For organisations with AI in production. Scope: Active governance controls, monitoring processes. Requirements: Operational policies, risk management procedures, incident response. Timeline: 6-8 weeks. Cost: $15,000 + GST.

Level 3: Full Governance

For high-risk or regulated AI deployments. Scope: Comprehensive governance, ongoing oversight. Requirements: Complete governance framework, board oversight, continuous monitoring. Timeline: 8-12 weeks. Cost: Custom pricing.

Our Methodology

Our AI governance assessment methodology is built on five core principles: independence, evidence-based assessment, risk-based approach, Australian context, and practical implementation. We assess across six governance domains: strategy and accountability, risk management, data governance, model governance, transparency and explainability, and monitoring and review.

Governance Framework

Our governance framework is designed for Australian organisations deploying AI systems. It provides structured guidance across all critical governance domains while remaining flexible enough to adapt to your specific context.

Framework Components

  • Governance Structure: Board oversight, executive accountability, governance committees
  • Risk Management: Risk assessment processes, mitigation strategies, incident response
  • Data Governance: Data quality, privacy protection, security controls
  • Model Governance: Development standards, validation processes, change management
  • Operational Controls: Monitoring systems, performance metrics, audit trails
  • Transparency: Documentation standards, explainability requirements, stakeholder communication

Ethics and Independence

Independence is fundamental to our assessment process. We maintain strict separation from consulting services, technology vendors, and commercial interests that could compromise our assessments.

Our Independence Commitments

  • No commercial relationships with assessed organisations beyond the assessment engagement
  • Assessors have no financial interest in assessment outcomes
  • Transparent methodology available for public review
  • Regular external audits of our assessment processes
  • Clear complaints and appeals procedures

Priority Sectors

We focus on sectors where AI risk exposure and regulatory scrutiny are highest:

Healthcare

AI in diagnostics, treatment planning, and patient care requires rigorous governance to protect patient safety and meet regulatory requirements.

Financial Services

AI in lending, fraud detection, and investment decisions faces intense regulatory scrutiny and poses significant liability risks.

Government

AI in public services, law enforcement, and decision-making must balance efficiency with fairness, transparency, and accountability.

Resources

We provide comprehensive resources to help Australian organisations understand and implement AI governance:

  • Australian Government AI Ethics Principles
  • NIST AI Risk Management Framework
  • EU AI Act Overview
  • ISO/IEC AI Standards
  • Industry-specific AI guidance
  • AI governance templates and checklists

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an AI governance readiness assessment?

An AI governance readiness assessment is an independent evaluation process that confirms an organisation has implemented appropriate policies, controls, and accountability structures for responsible AI deployment.

Why do organisations need AI governance?

AI governance helps organisations reduce board and executive liability, meet procurement requirements, manage insurance exposure, protect reputation, and address increasing regulatory scrutiny.

What are the risks of not implementing AI governance?

Without proper AI governance, organisations face board and executive liability, procurement rejection, increased insurance costs, reputational damage, and regulatory enforcement action.

How long does an AI governance assessment take?

Timeline varies based on assessment level: Early Stage (4-6 weeks), Operational (6-8 weeks), Full Governance (8-12 weeks).

What assessment level do I need?

Choose Early Stage for initial AI use, Operational for AI in production, or Full Governance for high-risk AI deployments.

Is AIGC government-affiliated?

No, we are an independent organisation. While we align with Australian Government AI guidance, we maintain complete independence.

Contact Information

Request an AI risk assessment or executive briefing. We respond to all enquiries within 24 hours.

Email: info@aigcaustralia.com.au

Location: Australia

Available for: AI governance assessments, governance risk and control reviews, executive briefings, speaking engagements

Structured Pricing

Independent AI governance maturity assessment

Our pricing reflects the complexity of AI governance and the expertise required to deliver independent, defensible assessment.

AI Governance Readiness Assessment

Investment from $18,000

Scope dependent on:

  • Number of AI systems
  • Operational impact level
  • Documentation maturity
  • Risk profile of AI deployment

Typical investment ranges:

Small or early stage deployment$18,000 to $25,000
Moderate complexity$25,000 to $45,000
Enterprise or multi division$45,000 to $75,000
Timeline: 3 to 5 weeks
Request scoping discussion

AI Governance Assessment Program

Assessment investment from $30,000

Final fee determined by:

  • Governance maturity level
  • Organisational complexity
  • AI system scale
  • Industry risk profile and governance expectations

Indicative investment ranges:

Early Stage governanceFrom $30,000
Developing governance$45,000 to $75,000
Formalised governance$80,000 to $120,000
Enterprise scale governance assessment$120,000+

Assessment is valid for 12 months and reflects governance maturity at the time of assessment.

Annual reassessment typically 60 percent of original assessment fee.

Engagement includes documented evidence register and structured assessment record.

Assessment outcomes are determined by AIGC's Assessment Panel following independent review.

Request scoping discussion

AI Governance Framework Development

Investment from $35,000

Indicative ranges:

Mid sized organisations$35,000 to $55,000
Complex or regulated environments$60,000 to $100,000+

Important Note:

Framework development and assessment are structurally separated to preserve independence.

Ongoing Governance Support

Monthly engagement from $6,000

Typical ranges:

SME$6,000/month
Mid$10,000/month
Enterprise$18,000+/month

Minimum six month engagement.

Advisory services are delivered separately from assessment outcomes.

Ongoing advisory engagements do not guarantee assessment outcomes.

How Fees Are Determined

Fees are determined based on documented scoping criteria.

Number and criticality of AI systems

Organisational complexity and operational scope

Governance maturity starting point

Industry risk profile

Board and executive reporting requirements

Independence and integrity

We do not design, build, or implement AI systems.

Our assessment function operates independently. Advisory services are delivered separately and do not influence assessment outcomes.

Next steps

If you are unsure where to start, we recommend beginning with an AI Governance Readiness Assessment.

This provides immediate clarity on your current position and the most appropriate next steps.

All assessment fees are fixed and not contingent on assessment outcomes.